Andre Schurrle's proposed move from Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea looks to have moved a step closer after the Bundesliga club's general manager said a fee had been agreed.
Schurrle, who is understood to have already agreed personal terms with the Blues, is on international duty for Germany in the USA but is expected to fly back via London to finalise the deal.
The 22-year-old is set to join the Europa League winners in a reported ?20m deal that will see Belgium international Kevin de Bruyne move in the opposite direction on loan.
"We have reached an agreement with Chelsea," Wolfgang Holzhauser told the Rheinische Post newspaper.
"They are going to buy Andre Schurrle for a specific fee and, in return, they will loan De Bruyne to us for a year for free.
"I expect Chelsea to stand by what has been agreed."
De Bruyne's involvement appears to have been a sticking point, with talk of Borussia Dortmund's interest briefly putting the deal in doubt.
